Bonanza

Fan-Fiction

I do not own the rights to the show Bonanza

Measure of Love

Scene 1

Accepting an Inheritance

"Go back, Ya need to go back. You're place ain't with us no more. Ya never been truly happy here. Always a twitchin and such." A soft hand had laid itself upon Caroline's arm. The spring humidity was so bad their clothes had been sticking to their skin and even with her hair pulled back Caroline had felt like living in the river - an item just happened to be not a hundred yards from the house.

"Brenda says I'm crazy to even consider going. And Momma..." Caroline started to speak only to find the older woman's finger stopping her speech.

"Darling, I ain't got the book learnin' some have, haven't see the places yer sis has, and I reckon thar's many things I don't git. It's just - even if I didn't birth ya - I know your heart. Ya always done complained about the west, and yet I done see your eyes moving that way more than once. And - I reckon - with Old Lady Hawkin's takin' a shine to ya, and leavin' ya all that money. Well, darlin' here's yer chance to check at that place she was always ramblin' on about. Maybe, even buy it. Ya could buy it outright iffin ya had a mind to. Don't mind Brenda, she'll come around." Connie Yancy spoke on the porch of a log cabin far out of date considering her neighbors had modern day houses with running water - hers didn't have - and the creek didn't count. Her dark hair lined with silver and her clothes definitely shoved her back a good fifty years - if not more.

Caroline's stroll took to her to an over sized- boulder with the words of the only woman to have earned the right to be called Mom still ringing in her ears. The western air was drier than she was used to, but the gal found herself taking a deep breath in and instantly falling in love with the smell of Ponderosa Pine. A baaing of a baby calf let her know spring was not in any hurry to leave.

Spring was not in a rush and Caroline found herself sitting down on the flat boulder. It was in her mind that she mulled over what the Connie Yancy had said - and about the things Old Lady Hawkin's had said while she was still breathing.

Ponderosa Pine for miles around. Cartwrights worked that land as faithful as any captain to his ship Old Lady Hawkins said. Men tried to divide that thar house -some came close- none succeeded. Woman, they always tryin' to turn their eyes, and two did get rings on their hands, but …." Her words had switched in mid-stream (due to the fact she couldn't quite remember what her neighbor had said) to tales of a lake still innocent, of adventure one could have had, her words went on and on. "You know that place might look familiar iffin' you went. Maybe, that old lady really did know what she was talkin about, honey." That last line was the one ringing in her ear the loudest.

The place did look familiar -too familiar in fact. But when had she been there and why had she left? The sun would have been blazing hot, but a slight breeze was blowing on this particular summer day. What she was seeing made her sigh and the lady stood up from the boulder. There was nothing to do -she figured- but to hop back into the truck and head into town for supplies.

Adam watched her drive off in the blue horseless carriage and knew his family would see the stranger on the land they still claimed as theirs though few could see them.

A stranger? Not to your family A voice rang silently in his ear.

But how did she get so far from us? It was a question he wanted answered -as he was sure his family would. Therefore, he raced like the wind to get home.

"She's back?" Ben slowly sat down in his favorite chair feeling as if his whole being had just been thrown under the wheels of his family's wagon when Adam practically flew through the door and told him what -more like whom - he'd seen.

"Yes, and Pa…" Adam felt awful. " What if she -unlike so many others - can see us and runs all over again?" Adam hated that idea.

"We have to let her choose. Attempting to force her hand will only drive her away - again." Ben let the words out slowly and leaned his head against his chair his silent words echoing Adam's without him knowing it. 'How did you get so far from us, Caroline?

Adam seeing the pain in his father's eyes swore he'd make a move to talk to Caroline and beg her forgiveness. His thoughts were similar once again to those of Ben's. I'm so sorry. Caroline was unaware of either men's words to each other -or the silent ones to themselves- as she was more concerned about getting her truck down one very rocky road.

The road was not only rocky, but the thing was doing its best to convince Caroline someone had wadded up a bunch of paper and never properly spread it out again. A loud hiss made her groan and she pulled over.

"Great! Just what a need a stupid flat tire." Tossing aside a piece of canvas she pulled out a spare tire and a jack.

"Need some help, Ma'am?" Caroline turned to see a weather-beaten cowboy with short dark hair.

"Don't know if I need it, but, I admit I hate messing with flats. If you don't mind." She grinned on the outside, but grew more troubled on the inside.

"Where are you from?" The man asked as he worked on the tire.

"From all over, but Arkansas the latest place I've lived. Had a chance to buy a ranch up here, a thousand square acres, and I did." Caroline expected to hear him laugh, but the man didn't.

"You know they say that ranch is haunted." He watched her closely for a reaction -she only shrugged her shoulders.

"So I've been hearing." With that she hopped in the truck and drove off.